Films About Spirituality
Films about spirituality explore the deeper aspects of human existence, often delving into themes of faith, inner peace, self-discovery, and the search for meaning. These films can be uplifting, thought-provoking, and sometimes challenging, as they invite audiences to reflect on their beliefs and experiences. They often portray characters on transformative journeys, grappling with existential questions and discovering new perspectives on life and the universe.
Here’s a list of notable films that center on spirituality:
“The Tree of Life”, 2010
Director: Terrence Malick
Directed by Terrence Malick, this visually stunning film juxtaposes the origins of the universe with the life of a family in 1950s Texas, exploring themes of grace, nature, and the quest for meaning amid suffering.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Tye Sheridan, Fiona Shaw, Jessica Fuselier, Nicolas Gonda, Will Wallace, Kelly Koonce, Bryce Boudoin, Jimmy Donaldson, Kameron Vaughn, Cole Cockburn, Dustin Allen, Brayden Whisenhunt, Joanna Going, Irene Bedard, Finnegan Williams, Michael Koeth, John Howell, Samantha Martinez, Savannah Welch, Tamara Jolaine, Julia M. Smith, Anne Nabors, Christopher Ryan, Tyler Thomas, Michael Showers, Kim Whalen, Margaret Hoard, Wally Welch, Hudson Lee Long, Michael Dixon, William Hardy, Tommy Hollis, Cooper Franklin Sutherland, John Cyrier, Erma Lee Alexander, Nicholas Yedinak, Erinn Allison, Mary Anzalone, Charlotte Biggs, Benjamin Dane, Michael E. Harvey, Matt Hislope, Jackson Hurst, Zach Irsik, Scottie Jefferies;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: fantasy, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 139 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “The Tree of Life” on the website imdb.com
“Samsara”, 2011
Director: Ron Fricke
A non-narrative documentary directed by Ron Fricke, “Samsara” takes viewers on a journey across the globe, showcasing breathtaking visuals that reflect on the cyclical nature of life, spirituality, and the human experience.
Starring: Ni Made Megahadi Pratiwi, Puti Sri Candra Dewi, Putu Dinda Pratika, Marcos Luna, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Olivier De Sagazan, Kikumaru, Crisanto Neire, Balinese Tari Legong Dancers, Ladyboys of Cascade Bar, Robert Henline, Collin Alfredo St. Dic;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: documentary, music;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,4;
“Life of Pi”, 2012
Director: Ang Lee
Based on Yann Martel's novel, this film tells the story of a young man stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. It explores themes of faith, survival, and the power of storytelling as Pi grapples with his beliefs in the face of adversity.
Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irfan Khan, Ayush Tandon, Gautam Belur, Adil Hussain, Tabu, Ayaan Khan, Mohd. Abbas Khaleeli, Vibish Sivakumar, Rafe Spall, Gérard Depardieu, James Saito, Jun Naito, Andrea Di Stefano, Shravanthi Sainath, Elie Alouf, Padmini Ramachandran, T.M. Karthik Srinivasan, Amarendran Ramanan, Hari Mina Bala, Edison Wang, Ko Yicheng, Jag Huang, Ravi Natesan, Adyant Balaji, Chirag Agarwal, Ahan André Kamath, Om Kamath, Srilekh Katta, Swati Van Rijswijk, M. Keerthana, Indumohan Poornima, Josephine Nithya B., Samyuktha S., A. Deiva Sundari, G. Vasantakumary, A. Vithya, Mythili Prakash, Raj Patel, Hadiqa Hamid, Iswar Srikumar, Navi Dhanoa;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: fantasy, drama, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 127 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “Life of Pi” on the website imdb.com
“What Dreams May Come”, 1998
Director: Vincent Ward
This fantasy drama follows Chris Nielsen, played by Robin Williams, as he navigates the afterlife in search of his wife. It delves into concepts of love, loss, and the possibility of spiritual existence beyond death.
Starring: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, Jessica Brooks Grant, Josh Paddock, Rosalind Chao, Lucinda Jenney, Maggie McCarthy, Wilma Bonet, Matt Salinger, Carin Sprague, June Carryl, Paul P. Card IV, Werner Herzog, Clara Thomas, Benjamin Brock, Joe Bartnick, Hélène Cardona, Bronwen Carson, Cabran E. Chamberlain, James Cotner, Robyn Day, Alexander Kanellakos, Phaedra Neitzel, Tom O'Reilly, Nancy Dobbs Owen, Kellan Patrick, René Peraza, Paradox Pollack, Vanessa Ross, Scott Trimble;
Production year: 1998;
Genre: fantasy, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 113 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “What Dreams May Come” on the website imdb.com
“The Pursuit of Happyness”, 2006
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Based on a true story, this film follows Chris Gardner's struggle with homelessness while raising his son. It highlights themes of perseverance, hope, and the importance of following one's dreams, resonating with spiritual undertones.
Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Brian Howe, James Karen, Dan Castellaneta, Kurt Fuller, Takayo Fischer, Kevin West, George Cheung, David Michael Silverman, Domenic Bove, Geoff Callan, Joyful Raven, Scott Klace, Rashida Clendening, Eric Schniewind, Peter Fitzsimmons, Maurice Sherbanee, Zuhair Haddad, Victor Raider-Wexler, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Darryl Fong, George Maguire, Joe Nunez, Adam Del Rio, Rocky LaRochelle, Erin Cahill, Rueben Grundy, Lo Ming, John Kovacevich, Bonnie Akimoto, Stu Klitsner, Esther Scott, Tina D'Elia, Rev. Cecil Williams, David Fine, George Moffatt, Amir Talai, Mike Garibaldi, Jason Frazier, Kevin Crook, David Haines, James Finnerty, Abigail Van Alyn, Bob Greene, Robert Anthony Peters, Terri Orth-Pallavicini, John Robb, Daniel Wilder!;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Pursuit of Happyness” on the website imdb.com
“Into the Wild”, 2007
Director: Sean Penn
Directed by Sean Penn, this film chronicles the journey of Christopher McCandless, who abandons his possessions and embarks on a quest for enlightenment in the Alaskan wilderness, exploring themes of freedom, nature, and self-discovery.
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Hal Holbrook, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Brian H. Dierker, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart, Jim Galien, James O'Neill, Malinda McCollum, Paul Knauls, Zach Galifianakis, Craig Mutsch, Jim Beidler, John Decker, John Hofer, Jerry Hofer, Terry Waldner, Robin Mathews, Candice Campos, Steven Wiig, Thure Lindhardt, Signe Egholm Olsen, Floyd Wall, Bryce Walters, Jim Davis, Cheryl Francis Harrington, R.D. Call, Haley Ramm, Merritt Wever, Everett «Insane Wayne» Smith, John Jabaley, Leonard Knight, Matt Contreras, Denise Sitton, Bart the Bear, Sharon Olds, Carine McCandless, Dan Burch, Doug Cartwright, Joe Dustin, Golbon Eghtedari, Alvin Ellie, Zoe Galvez, Caroline Gelabert, Geri Gilmore, Paul Haasch, Andy Hayward;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama, adventure, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 148 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Into the Wild” on the website imdb.com
“A Ghost Story”, 2017
Director: David Lowery
A haunting exploration of love and loss, this film follows a man who becomes a ghost after his death, observing the lives of those he left behind. It reflects on time, existence, and the connections that transcend the physical world.
Starring: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, McColm Cephas Jr., Kenneisha Thompson, Grover Coulson, Liz Cardenas, Barlow Jacobs, Richard Krause, Dagger Salazar, Sonia Acevedo, Carlos Bermudez, Kimberly Fiddes, Daniel Escudero, Kesha, Jared Kopf, Afomia Hailemeskel, Will Oldham, Brea Grant, Augustine Frizzell, Jonny Mars, Rachel Ballard, Bryan Pitts, Rob Zabrecky, Sara Tomerlin, Margot Tomerlin, Sylvie Tomerlin, Savanna Walsh, Derrick Halverson, David Miller, Hector Escalante, Randy E. Aguebor, Joel David Taylor, Monalisa Amidar, Phillip Amidar, Stan Sanders, Alvis Lewis, David Fraga, Kimberly Gail Williams, Tanya Foster, Giovannie Cruz, Paulie Killgore, Otis Harris, Kathy Jordan, Scooter Walsh, William Sydney, David Helms, Jordan Jett Raines, Kelli Holdridge, Taylor Anne Ramsey, Alexis Fleisig;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: fantasy, drama, melodrama, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 92 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “A Ghost Story” on the website imdb.com
“The Fountain”, 2006
Director: Darren Aronofsky
This ambitious film interweaves three storylines across different time periods, exploring themes of love, death, and the quest for eternal life, ultimately questioning the nature of existence and spiritual fulfillment.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn, Mark Margolis, Stephen McHattie, Fernando Hernandez, Cliff Curtis, Sean Patrick Thomas, Donna Murphy, Ethan Suplee, Richard MacMillan, Lorne Brass, Abraham Aronofsky, Renee Asofsky, Anish Majumdar, Janique Kearns, Boyd Banks, Alex Bisping, Kevin Kelsall, Patrick Vandal, Marcello Bezina, Hugo Salvador Gutierrez Aguilar, Eric Carmelo Valenzuela Batz, Elfego Vinicio Pena Castellanos, Jose Maria Tol Chan, Jose Panjoj Cortez, Juan Salvador Lares, Jose Alfredo Conoz Macario, Tomas Tol Nix, Luis Alfredo Yac Noj, Mateo Martin Perez, Edson Vasquez Pixabaj, Marvin Leonardo Raxtun Raxton, Tomas Morales Sacquic, Santos Ajic Sapon, Xaijil Sicajan, Manuel Antonio Salvador Tol, Tomas Salvador Tol, Tomas Augustin Canil Ventura, Carlos Enrique Ramos Xalcut, Octavio Guadelupe Zambala Xitamul;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: science fiction, drama, melodrama, detective;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “The Fountain” on the website imdb.com
“Eat Pray Love”, 2010
Director: Ryan Murphy
Based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, this film follows a woman's journey of self-discovery as she travels to Italy, India, and Bali, seeking pleasure, spirituality, and balance after a painful divorce.
Starring: Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup, Viola Davis, Mike O'Malley, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Christine Hakim, Sophie Thompson, Hadi Subiyanto, Ashlie Atkinson, Lisa Roberts Gillan, I. Gusti Ayu Puspawati, A. Jay Radcliff, Ryan O'Nan, Gita Reddy, Dwayne Clark, Jen Kwok, Mary Testa, Elijah Tucker, Karen Trindle, Zachary Dunham, Clair Oaks, Ned Leavitt, Lynn Margileth, Welker White, José Ramón Rosario, Lucia Guzzardi, Tuva Novotny, Luca Argentero, Silvano Rossi, Giuseppe Gandini, Ludovica Virga, Marco Lastrucci, Elena Arvigo, Andrea Di Stefano, Remo Remotti, Vanessa Marini, Lidia Biondi, Emma Brunetti, Chiara Brunetti, Ajay Bhandari, Michael Cumpsty, Rushita Singh, Ritvik Tyagi, Sd Pandey, Anand Yeshwant Bapat, Micky Dhamejani, Peter Davis, Shona Benson;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: drama, melodrama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 134 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,8;
More information about the film “Eat Pray Love” on the website imdb.com
“Cloud Atlas”, 2012
Director: Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Lilly Wachowski
This ambitious film weaves together multiple narratives across time and space, exploring themes of reincarnation, interconnectedness, and the impact of individual actions on the broader tapestry of existence.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Ben Whishaw, Hugo Weaving, Bae Doo-na, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, James D'Arcy, Keith David, David Gyasi, Zhu Zhu, Zhou Xun, Robert Fyfe, Martin Wuttke, Robin Morrissey, Brody Lee, Ian van Temperley, Amanda Walker, Ralph Riach, Andrew Havill, Tanja de Wendt, Raevan Lee Hanan, Götz Otto, Niall Greig Fulton, Louis Dempsey, Martin Docherty, Alistair Petrie, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Jojo Schöning, Laura Vietzen, Thomas Kügel, Marie Rönnebeck, Ruby Kastner, Emma Werz, Mya-Lecia Naylor, Korbyn Hawk Hanan, Katy Karrenbauer, Dulcie Smart, Anna Holmes, Shaun Lawton, Moritz Berg, Gigi Lee, Genevien Lee, Cody Benjamin Lee, Heike Hanold, Victor Solé, Kristoffer Fuss, Marco Albrecht;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: science fiction, drama, action, detective, adventure;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 172 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
These films not only entertain but also inspire viewers to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and the profound questions of life.
In exploring the rich tapestry of films about spirituality, we are reminded of cinema's profound ability to delve into the complexities of the human experience, grappling with themes of existence, purpose, and transcendence. These films often serve as mirrors reflecting our innermost questions, inviting audiences to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and enlightenment. From the serene landscapes of “The Tree of Life” to the thought-provoking narratives of “Life of Pi,” these cinematic works challenge us to ponder the divine, the interconnectedness of all beings, and the myriad ways spirituality manifests in our lives. Ultimately, they offer not just entertainment, but a catalyst for introspection and a deeper understanding of what it means to seek meaning in an often chaotic world.
